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Santa Has Got to Go
We all know that Santa Claus is one cool dude! But how is he as a houseguest? Find out in this hilarious picture book by bestselling author Derrick Barnes!
The number one thing on Monte and Mabel’s Christmas wish list is the chance to hang out with Santa Claus. So when his sleigh breaks down in their yard as he’s finishing up his last delivery, they couldn’t be more delighted--Santa’s gonna stay with them while he waits for spare parts to be delivered! It’s a dream come true . . . or is it? It turns out Santa doesn’t have a lot of experience being a houseguest, and likes to rock out late at night and swigs spaghetti sauce from the jar. But when he messes with Dad’s motorcycle and Mabel’s computer tablet, he’s gone a step too far and the whole family agrees--Santa’s gotta go! But how on earth do you kick out Santa Claus?
Readers will get a kick out of this hilarious holiday tale by New York Times bestselling author Derrick Barnes, with its funny reminder to be careful what you wish for and to remember that sharing the holiday spirit can take a lot of goodwill.
The number one thing on Monte and Mabel’s Christmas wish list is the chance to hang out with Santa Claus. So when his sleigh breaks down in their yard as he’s finishing up his last delivery, they couldn’t be more delighted--Santa’s gonna stay with them while he waits for spare parts to be delivered! It’s a dream come true . . . or is it? It turns out Santa doesn’t have a lot of experience being a houseguest, and likes to rock out late at night and swigs spaghetti sauce from the jar. But when he messes with Dad’s motorcycle and Mabel’s computer tablet, he’s gone a step too far and the whole family agrees--Santa’s gotta go! But how on earth do you kick out Santa Claus?
Readers will get a kick out of this hilarious holiday tale by New York Times bestselling author Derrick Barnes, with its funny reminder to be careful what you wish for and to remember that sharing the holiday spirit can take a lot of goodwill.
Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 2023
70 people want to read
About the author
Derrick Barnes
28 books251 followersWhere I come from, no one dreams of becoming an author.
I didn’t know any famous African American male authors. I didn’t actually meet one until I attended college. I wanted to be a football player, the next Sean Combs, or a rapper; anything that would instantly provide me with the riches I would need to “move my mama off of the block”. I was raised in a single parent household by my mother, the lovely Miss Catherine Barnes, along with my big brother, Anthony, in Kansas City, MO.
My first attempt at writing a real story was in the fifth grade. I think it was about a group of stray dogs trekking across the country to find a magic bone or something. I can’t remember. But I do remember what it felt like when I finished and read it. It felt powerful to create characters, places, and stories that began and ended the way I wanted them to. After that I wrote songs, poems, plays, and short stories. I also read like crazy. I remember tying a shoestring around a flashlight, hanging it on the bar in my closet, and sitting in there reading encyclopedias. My brother thought I was the weirdest kid ever, but that was my way of traveling, of flying, and dreaming.
When I graduated from high school, I worked a couple of part time jobs and attended a local community college. I received an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration. I went on to Jackson State University, a historically black college in Jackson, Mississippi, where I obtained Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing. It was there that I experienced life altering events and met people that changed me forever. I met my then college sweetheart and now beautiful wife, Dr. Tinka Barnes. I met life long friends (big up to my brothers JG, Killa Don, and Noir). I also became a campus newspaper advice columnist. All three of those occurrences and acquaintances changed my life vividly, but the column, entitled Brown Sugar, gave me the confidence to write with purpose. I also felt like, for the first time, that I had something to say and that people would listen. Who wouldn't listen to a guy with the pen name "Hershey Brown"?
Upon graduation, I moved back to Kansas City with no intentions of using my brand new, shiny Marketing degree in a drab, corporate environment. With the urging of my wife, I sent a writing portfolio to Hallmark Cards, and was hired as the first African-American man in the history of the company as a staff copywriter in 1999. I worked there for three years. I learned so much about crafting my words, about editing, and about constructive criticism. While at Hallmark, I met so many talented artists and was introduced to my now literary agent, Ms. Regina Brooks of Serendipity Literary Agency. Within a month, we had a two-book deal signed with Scholastic. My wife and I also welcomed our first son into the world, Ezra.
My family and I moved to New Orleans, LA so that my wife could complete her medical residency in 2003. While there we had our second son, Solomon, and I landed a deal with Simon Pulse for my first novel, “The Making of Dr. Truelove”. We lived there for two and a half years until we were chased back to Kansas City by the most disastrous force of nature in US history, Hurricane Katrina.
We returned to KC safe and sound. My wife officially finished medical residency and became a full fledged doctor. We had our third son, Silas, and I landed a four-book deal with Scholastic for the ultra popular hit series, “Ruby and the Booker Boys”.
Some days, when I read to my sons or go to schools and read to kids, I can still see that little boy reading encyclopedias by flashlight. Hopefully, a child will meet me and say to themselves, “You know what, it’s possible. I can become an author! I’ve met, and have seen with my very own eyes, a living, breathing author. It’s definitely possible for me.”
It most certainly is.
I didn’t know any famous African American male authors. I didn’t actually meet one until I attended college. I wanted to be a football player, the next Sean Combs, or a rapper; anything that would instantly provide me with the riches I would need to “move my mama off of the block”. I was raised in a single parent household by my mother, the lovely Miss Catherine Barnes, along with my big brother, Anthony, in Kansas City, MO.
My first attempt at writing a real story was in the fifth grade. I think it was about a group of stray dogs trekking across the country to find a magic bone or something. I can’t remember. But I do remember what it felt like when I finished and read it. It felt powerful to create characters, places, and stories that began and ended the way I wanted them to. After that I wrote songs, poems, plays, and short stories. I also read like crazy. I remember tying a shoestring around a flashlight, hanging it on the bar in my closet, and sitting in there reading encyclopedias. My brother thought I was the weirdest kid ever, but that was my way of traveling, of flying, and dreaming.
When I graduated from high school, I worked a couple of part time jobs and attended a local community college. I received an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration. I went on to Jackson State University, a historically black college in Jackson, Mississippi, where I obtained Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing. It was there that I experienced life altering events and met people that changed me forever. I met my then college sweetheart and now beautiful wife, Dr. Tinka Barnes. I met life long friends (big up to my brothers JG, Killa Don, and Noir). I also became a campus newspaper advice columnist. All three of those occurrences and acquaintances changed my life vividly, but the column, entitled Brown Sugar, gave me the confidence to write with purpose. I also felt like, for the first time, that I had something to say and that people would listen. Who wouldn't listen to a guy with the pen name "Hershey Brown"?
Upon graduation, I moved back to Kansas City with no intentions of using my brand new, shiny Marketing degree in a drab, corporate environment. With the urging of my wife, I sent a writing portfolio to Hallmark Cards, and was hired as the first African-American man in the history of the company as a staff copywriter in 1999. I worked there for three years. I learned so much about crafting my words, about editing, and about constructive criticism. While at Hallmark, I met so many talented artists and was introduced to my now literary agent, Ms. Regina Brooks of Serendipity Literary Agency. Within a month, we had a two-book deal signed with Scholastic. My wife and I also welcomed our first son into the world, Ezra.
My family and I moved to New Orleans, LA so that my wife could complete her medical residency in 2003. While there we had our second son, Solomon, and I landed a deal with Simon Pulse for my first novel, “The Making of Dr. Truelove”. We lived there for two and a half years until we were chased back to Kansas City by the most disastrous force of nature in US history, Hurricane Katrina.
We returned to KC safe and sound. My wife officially finished medical residency and became a full fledged doctor. We had our third son, Silas, and I landed a four-book deal with Scholastic for the ultra popular hit series, “Ruby and the Booker Boys”.
Some days, when I read to my sons or go to schools and read to kids, I can still see that little boy reading encyclopedias by flashlight. Hopefully, a child will meet me and say to themselves, “You know what, it’s possible. I can become an author! I’ve met, and have seen with my very own eyes, a living, breathing author. It’s definitely possible for me.”
It most certainly is.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 18, 2023
Y’all…this was freaking hilarious. I adore Derrick Barnes but he outdid himself with this one. A family wants to host Santa Claus until they figure out what he’s really like. It’s such a good look at patience, being caring, and giving during the holiday season. And that ending had me HOLLERING. I loveeeeddddd the illustrations by Courtney Lovett! The accurate depictions and representation of a Black family was everything I wanted to see. Definitely check this one out!
September 17, 2025
Derrick Barnes has done it once again with a Great Spin to a Holiday Cheer! 🛷🎄
Please, take time to read this with your children. It's a True Present 🎁.
Please, take time to read this with your children. It's a True Present 🎁.
October 11, 2023
This was such a fun book! A family who loves Christmas is happy when Santa gets to stay with them for a few days when his sleigh breaks down. But the family soon realizes that living with Santa isn't easy as he eats all the food in the fridge and rocks out until late in the night with his friends. This will be a great one for the kids once Christmas time comes around.
December 12, 2023
This is a super fun Christmas story. My K-5 students have all enjoyed it this week!
October 22, 2023
What happens when the Mack family is Santa's last stop and his sleigh breaks down? They have the houseguest they'd all been dreaming about! But wait. Santa is messy, hungry, breaks things, and jams with neighbors until the wee hours of the morning. Santa is such a terrible houseguest, and the Macks leave him to have a break of their own at a nearby hotel. The situation gets solved through the diplomacy of a well-written note and some thoughtfulness on Santa's part.
The art is cheerful and jaunty. The illustration details add to the jazzy feel of the family vibe. This is the book that shows a Black family just being like any other family, and a Black Santa just being the hero that we all want in the end. No race lessons here EXCEPT that we can ALL appreciate a book with colorful characters, a hipster Santa who rides Dad's motorcycle and a kid who loses it when "someone" steps on her new tablet. A great holiday gift book to leave in the guest bedroom ;)
The art is cheerful and jaunty. The illustration details add to the jazzy feel of the family vibe. This is the book that shows a Black family just being like any other family, and a Black Santa just being the hero that we all want in the end. No race lessons here EXCEPT that we can ALL appreciate a book with colorful characters, a hipster Santa who rides Dad's motorcycle and a kid who loses it when "someone" steps on her new tablet. A great holiday gift book to leave in the guest bedroom ;)
December 6, 2023
First sentence: Last Christmas, the Macks of 4550 Welling Good Lane saw a story on TV about Santa Clau spending some quality time with a family in Boston, sipping hot cocoa and playing video games.
Premise/plot: The Mack family thinks it would be completely AWESOME and AMAZING to host Santa Claus at their house. What could go wrong????? But when Santa actually stays with the family for an extended period of time--a week or possibly two--the family realizes that it is NOT actually that great having Santa as a guest. In fact, Santa is a super annoying house guest.
My thoughts: I liked this one. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. But the good news is is that I didn't overthink it. It was nice to just sit back and read a book in an easygoing way. If this plot hasn't already been used in a movie, it probably should be.
Premise/plot: The Mack family thinks it would be completely AWESOME and AMAZING to host Santa Claus at their house. What could go wrong????? But when Santa actually stays with the family for an extended period of time--a week or possibly two--the family realizes that it is NOT actually that great having Santa as a guest. In fact, Santa is a super annoying house guest.
My thoughts: I liked this one. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. But the good news is is that I didn't overthink it. It was nice to just sit back and read a book in an easygoing way. If this plot hasn't already been used in a movie, it probably should be.
December 22, 2023
A very funny picture book by Derrick Barnes poses the question - "How cool would it be if Santa Claus stayed at your house while his sled got fixed?" The Mack family (as Santa's last stop) gets the opportunity and what seems like a Christmas dream come true, but as the story plays out the family of four finds out it is just the opposite! Santa turns into "that" house guest - he eats too much. makes a mess, and then decides to rock out and jam with some neighbors in the garage. Yup, it's not all sugar plums! This is an original idea and story with bright, brilliant artwork by Courtney Lovett that will certainly be a great read aloud to share with a class, small group, or with a family or friend.
December 22, 2023
If you've been looking for a funny Christmas book look no further. After a sleigh break down Santa ends up staying with Monte and Mable's family while waiting for spare parts to arrive. Everyone thinks it's going to be a great experience until it's not.
I loved seeing the mischief that Santa got up to while being a house guest. I was invested in what was happening and how Santa was going to make things right after the family left because they couldn't take it anymore. While a holiday picture book, it does lend a teaching lesson of how to be a good guest. I think that kids and adults will both enjoy reading this during the holiday season.
I loved seeing the mischief that Santa got up to while being a house guest. I was invested in what was happening and how Santa was going to make things right after the family left because they couldn't take it anymore. While a holiday picture book, it does lend a teaching lesson of how to be a good guest. I think that kids and adults will both enjoy reading this during the holiday season.
October 30, 2023
Love the illustrations in this book. Ok, and I like the fact that this is to a "sappy" Santa story. This book is filled with humor and makes one think about the fact that when Santa's Public Relations image is not working he can be a real human.
It is also a lesson in be careful what you wish for. This family thought it would be "cool" to have Santa at their home. The family did not think beyond the persona of Santa until the real Santa showed up.
The cover art is "Priceless!"
It is also a lesson in be careful what you wish for. This family thought it would be "cool" to have Santa at their home. The family did not think beyond the persona of Santa until the real Santa showed up.
The cover art is "Priceless!"
October 31, 2023
This humorous book follows a family who at first are super excited to get a chance to meet Santa when his sleigh breaks down in their yard, but then they find out that this rock 'n' roll Santa is not the best houseguest! A great way to teach kids the importance of keeping their holiday cheer when dealing with guests who might overstay their welcome, while also being festive and fun. I like the new spin this brown-skinned tatted-up Santa offered to the lore of the jolly ol' elf!
December 6, 2023
A goofy look at what would happen if Santa's sleigh breaks down and you invite Santa to stay with you-- word to the wise-- he's a horrible houseguest! The family that he crashes with has had enough, Santa's gotta go!
The right mix of offbeat, it adds a shot in the arm to seasonal holiday stories with both representation and a new way to think about the jolly guy. Plus it teaches about being a good houseguest and being a good host with a fantastic last page.
The right mix of offbeat, it adds a shot in the arm to seasonal holiday stories with both representation and a new way to think about the jolly guy. Plus it teaches about being a good houseguest and being a good host with a fantastic last page.
February 10, 2024
3 stars (I liked it)
I have mixed feelings about this one.
The Macks see that Santa was hanging out with a family last Christmas so this year they decided to try to get him to hang out at their house. But then his sleigh breaks and Santa has to stay for a few days. The Mack family finds out that Santa is a terrible houseguest.
Like, it's funny for sure but I just think seeing Santa being a clueless jerk is just kind of weird.
I have mixed feelings about this one.
The Macks see that Santa was hanging out with a family last Christmas so this year they decided to try to get him to hang out at their house. But then his sleigh breaks and Santa has to stay for a few days. The Mack family finds out that Santa is a terrible houseguest.
Like, it's funny for sure but I just think seeing Santa being a clueless jerk is just kind of weird.
December 29, 2023
When the Mack family hears of Santa spending some time with a family in Boston, the Mack family actively wishes for the same opportunity. Then on Christmas Eve, Santa has a problem with his sleigh and the Mack family gets their wish. However, the Macks learn it isn't easy hosting Santa. A gently humorous Christmas picture book that will be fun to share, especially the last page!
January 31, 2024
Funny Christmas story where Santa overstays his welcome until even the youngest, Mabel Mack, shouts "SANTA'S GOTTA GO!" The resolution of this book -- of kindness and love and generosity -- is my favorite part. I also love that the Macks and Santa are Black. This has to be the coolest Santa Claus I've ever seen in a picture book.
February 14, 2024
Poor Santa . . . nothing seems to be going right. However, what about the poor family who is trying to help him out? Derek Barnes had created a hilarious holiday tale, (and a great reminder to be careful what you wish for.) Sharing the holiday spirit can take a lot of goodwill. Everyone will laugh out loud as Santa “makes himself comfortable”!
May 31, 2024
I read this book as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. I really just felt kinda MEH about this book. Not much to write about other than I feel like it makes Santa seem like a freeloader/jerk. (Ha!) Overall, it's cool that this author gave us a new perspective on what Santa could be like.
December 3, 2023
Spoiler alert: This is not a Santa potty book. 😂 I really thought, from the title, that Santa would be in desperate search of a toilet but nope! Lol!
Funny and cute story about Santa overstaying his welcome…I know, I know…how is that even possible, right?
Funny and cute story about Santa overstaying his welcome…I know, I know…how is that even possible, right?
October 11, 2023
Loved it!
October 17, 2023
A cute, funny story about Santa overstaying his welcome but showing what true Christmas spirit is about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2023
Love Derrick Barnes. Love a story with a Black family and Black Santa. But the actual story itself was meh.
November 4, 2023
This is a new Santa for today's generation. This was hilarious, cute, and the artwork was amazing. I would love to read this to students during the holiday season. I loved it!
November 21, 2023
Loved the narration and illustrations! It was funny and heartwarming to read about Santa's adventures as a houseguest.
December 3, 2023
LOL!!!
December 6, 2023
SC can be a real trouble maker, and baby sisters do tell the truth. Santa does need a real vacation!
December 6, 2023
So funny!
December 9, 2023
Monte and Mabel want Santa to hang out at their house, but once this happens they start to have some regrets. This is a very humorous story featuring a modern version of Santa. Love the ending.
December 10, 2023
Very fun Christmas story. For grades K & up.
December 13, 2023
Super cute!
December 14, 2023
It’s time for Santa to BOUNCE.
December 14, 2023
Heard about this book when President Obama read it to a Chicago classroom!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews